Medical suturing material

ABSTRACT

A medical suturing material which is loaded into an automatic suturing device having a staple line when used. The medical suturing material according to the present invention is formed into a bag shape having a closed leading end by sewing a sheet shape suturing material by using a suturing thread. The main material of the suturing material is unwoven fabric such as felt, woven fabric or a knit cloth having somewhat flexibility and stretchability. In particular, bioabsorbable polymer, such as polyglycolic acid or a portion of a tissue of an organism is employed. Since the suturing material according to the present invention is formed into the bag shape having a closed leading end by sewing, displacement taking place attributable to shrinkage in the insertion direction can be prevented when the automatic suturing device is inserted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a medical suturing material which issutured to, for example, an excised portion of a tissue of an organism,and more particularly, to a medical suturing material of a type arrangedto be loaded into an automatic suturing device.

BACKGROUND ART

Excision of a diseased part of a tissue of an organism generally isperformed by a surgical operation. In order to reduce burden of apatient, the operation has been performed with an endoscope.

For example, an excision operation using an automatic suturing devicehas been performed. The automatic suturing device is introduced into theorganism through a perforation to excise the diseased part and suturethe excised portion. By using the medical suturing material, anadvantage can be realized in that the necessity of incision of thediseased part can be eliminated. Therefore, the automatic suturingdevice has, at the leading end thereof, a suturing mechanism portion forholding the excised portion of the tissue of an organism. Moreover, thesuturing mechanism portion has a plurality of staple lines forperforming the suturing operation and a cutting mechanism, such as aknife, for cutting the tissue of an organism.

As a matter of course, use of the automatic suturing device in thesurgical operation is advantageous in shortening the time required tocomplete the suturing and incision operations and in simplifying theoperation.

In a case where the automatic suturing device is used when an operationof a weak tissue, such as the lung, the branch, the liver, thealimentary canal or the like is performed, the suturing operation usingthe staples has a risk that the tissue tears. In a case of an operationof, for example, the lung, there is a risk that air leakage takes place.Since the air leakage is a fatal problem for the patient, reliableprevention is required.

Accordingly, a method has been employed in which a suturing material ispreviously loaded into the automatic suturing device so as to be suturedto the excised portion of the tissue of an organism.

In this case, a contrivance is required to enable the suturing materialto be loaded into the automatic suturing device so as to reliably bebrought to the diseased part. For example, a structure has beensuggested in which a knit cloth having flexibility is placed on afelt-type suturing material, followed by sewing the two side lines withtacking threads to form a cylindrical shape.

However, the suturing material formed by sewing the knit cloth havingflexibility with the sewing thread so as to be loaded into the automaticsuturing device can be contracted into the direction of insertion whenthe automatic suturing device is inserted into the organism to bebrought to the diseased part, thus resulting in the suturing materialbeing displaced to the base portion of the automatic suturing device orbeing turned around the automatic suturing device. That is, a problem oftwisting takes place.

If the suturing material is displaced or turned, appropriate treatmentcannot smoothly be performed. In particular, an operation of a typewhich is performed with an endoscope encounters a critical problem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is toprovide a medical suturing material which is capable of preventingdisplacement and turn when an automatic suturing device is inserted, forexample, capable of reliably preventing air leakage when used in anoperation of the lung.

To achieve the foregoing object, a medical suturing material accordingto the present invention is formed by sewing a sheet shape suturingmaterial into a bag shape having a closed leading end by using asuturing thread so as to be loaded into an automatic suturing devicehaving a staple line.

The suturing material according to the present invention has the mainsuturing material which may be a material, such as unwoven fabric suchas felt, woven fabric or a knit cloth if it has somewhat flexibility andstretchability. A known material may be employed. In consideration ofthe state after the operation, it is preferable that bioabsorbablepolymer, such as polyglycolic acid, or a portion of a tissue of anorganism, for example, the organ protective film, such as the heart sac,be employed.

The above-mentioned suturing material may be formed into the bag shapeby sewing one cloth material by the suturing thread or a plurality of,for example, two suturing materials, may be sewed into the bag shape. Inthe latter case, the two suturing materials may be the same material ormay be different materials. Either of the two suturing materials may bea material except the suturing material, for example, a usual knitcloth.

Since the suturing material according to the present invention has thebag shape having the closed leading end by sewing, displacement takingplace attributable to shrinkage in the insertion direction can beprevented when the automatic suturing device is inserted.

Since the suturing material formed into the bag shape from one or aplurality of suturing material by sewing has the structure in which theoverall surface is made of only the suturing material, no problem ariseseven if it is unintentionally turned (twisted).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a suturingmaterial according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of anautomatic suturing device in which the suturing material is used;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an essential portion of asuturing mechanism portion of the automatic suturing device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where thesuturing material has been loaded into the automatic suturing device;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of a suturingoperation by using the automatic suturing device;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where thesuturing treatment has been completed; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of thesuturing material according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

A medical suturing material 1 according to this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, is in the form of a bag shape having a closed leading end bysewing one main suturing material 2 made of felt (for example, NEOVEILwhich is trade name of Gunze Kabushiki Kaisha) composed of, for exampleabsorbable polyglycolic acid by using a suturing thread. As describedabove, the structure is very simple.

The main suturing material 2 may be a known suturing material as well asthe bioabsorbable polymer, such as the absorbable polyglycolic acid. Forexample, a portion of a tissue of an organism, such as an organprotective film exemplified by the heart sac, may be employed.

The main suturing material 2 is formed into an elongated shape having alength which is substantially the same as that of a loading portion ofan automatic suturing device to be described later. The main suturingmaterial 2 is folded into two, and then sewed along one side portion inthe widthwise direction by a suturing thread 3 which is a thread forsuturing.

It is preferable that the suturing threads 3 be so-called monofilamentsin view of easy drawing, while the material of the same may bedetermined arbitrarily. For example, an bioabsorbable polymer thread ora polyamide thread (trade name: Nylon Thread) having excellent slidingcharacteristic may preferably be employed.

The medical suturing material having the above-mentioned structure isloaded into the automatic suturing device. The structure of theautomatic suturing device and the method to use the medical suturingmaterial according to this embodiment will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic suturing device has, at the leadingend of a shaft 11 thereof, a suturing portion 12 which can beopened/closed. The automatic suturing device has, in the base portionthereof, an operation portion 13 which is arranged to be held and withwhich operation of the automatic suturing device is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the suturing portion 12 has a suturing mechanismportion 12a on which a cartridge accommodating staples and a knife bladeare mounted; and a jaw portion 12b for holding a tissue of an organism.A plurality of (3 lines×3 lines=6 lines) of staple lines 14 and knifescanning line 15 face the holding surface of the suturing mechanismportion 12a.

The automatic suturing device is introduced into the organism through anattachment called a "surge boat". That is, the surge boat is attached toa perforation formed in the organism, and then the shaft 11 of theautomatic suturing device is inserted into the organism through thesurge boat. As a result, the perforation formed in the organism can besealed up.

The medical suturing material 1 is loaded into the suturing portion 12of the automatic suturing device when used. FIG. 4 shows a state wherethe suturing material 1 has been loaded into the suture portion 12 ofthe automatic suturing device such that the suturing material 1 isattached to the suturing mechanism portion 12a and jaw portion 12b.

The suturing material 1 can smoothly be loaded into the suture portion12 by covering the suture portion 12 with the bag shape suturingmaterial 1.

In the above-mentioned state, the automatic suturing device is insertedinto the organism through the surge boat as described above to bebrought to the diseased part. Since the suturing material 1, to beloaded into the automatic suturing device, has a shape arranged suchthat the closed portion of the bag structure is pushed in, displacementand twisting can be prevented.

After the suture portion 12 has been introduced into the diseased part,the excised portion of the tissue of an organism 20 is held by thesuturing mechanism portion 12a and jaw portion 12b, as shown in FIG. 5.As a result, the excised portion is covered with the main suturingmaterial 2.

Then, an operation lever 13a provided for the operation portion 13 ofthe automatic suturing device is operated so that staples are driventhrough the operation portion 13.

As a result, the staples are driven along the excised portion of thetissue of the organism 20 so that the suturing treatment is performed.Simultaneously, the main suturing material 2 of the suturing material 1loaded into the suture portion 12 is pressed against the excised portionof the tissue of the organism 20 so as to be sutured by the staples.

The main suturing material 2 serves as a reinforcing member when thesuturing operation is performed. By suturing the cut portion of thetissue of the organism 20 through the main suturing material 2, tearingof the tissue can be prevented. Thus, for example, an excision operationof a great sacculus alveolaris can be performed without air leakage.

Then, the knife provided for the suturing mechanism portion 12a isscanned along the scanning lines 15 to cut the tissue of the organism 20and the main suturing material 2.

Thus, the suturing treatment is completed. By using the suturingmaterial 1 according to this embodiment, the suturing operation cansmoothly be performed. Moreover, the sutured portion can reliably bereinforced and air leakage from the same can be prevented. FIG. 6 showsa state of completion of the suturing operation, in which the mainsuturing material 2 is joined to the sutured portion of the tissue ofthe organism 20 by the suturing operation. The state of suturing cansignificantly be stabilized.

Embodiment 2

A suturing material 21 according to this embodiment is, as shown in FIG.7, formed by sewing two suturing materials 22 and 23 into a bag shapehaving a closed leading end.

Each of the suturing materials 22 and 23 is formed into a shape having awidth which is reduced in a direction toward the leading end thereof.The two side ends are sewed by suturing threads 24 and 25. The suturingthreads 24 and 25 are made to intersect at the leading ends of thesuturing materials 22 and 23 correspondent to the shapes of the suturingmaterials 22 and 23 so that sewing of the bag structure is madereliable.

The suturing materials 22 and 23 may be made of the same material ordifferent materials. Specifically, the first suturing material 22 ismade of felt of absorbable polyglycolic acid (for example, NEOVEIL whichis trade name of Gunze Kabushiki Kaisha), while the second suturingmaterial 23 is made of another material.

By using different materials, the cost can be reduced and therefore anadvantage can be realized in the manufacturing process.

Also the suturing material according to this embodiment is, similarly tothe suturing material according to Embodiment 1, loaded into theautomatic suturing device when used. The method of use of the same issimilar to that according to Embodiment 1.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form can be changed in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The suturing material according to the present invention is able toprevent displacement taking place attributable to shrinkage when theautomatic suturing device is inserted. Even if twisting takes place, thesuturing material can always be in contact with the diseased part.

Therefore, use of the suturing material according to the presentinvention enables the sutured portion to be reinforced reliably. As aresult, tearing of the tissue and air leakage can be prevented.

We claim:
 1. In combination with an automatic suturing device used forsuturing and cutting tissue, the automatic suturing device having asuturing mechanism portion, and a jaw portion:a medical suturingmaterial comprising at least one sheet of a flexible main suturingmaterial sewn into a bag shape having a closed leading end by at leastone suturing thread, the suturing thread being drawable wherein saidmedical suturing material is loaded into said suturing mechanismportion.
 2. The combination as in to claim 1, wherein said at least onesheet of a flexible main suturing material is selected from a groupconsisting of unwoven fabric, woven fabric and a knit cloth.
 3. Thecombination as in to claim 2, wherein said at least one sheet of aflexible main suturing material is made of synthetic polymer.
 4. Thecombination as in to claim 3, wherein said synthetic polymer isbioabsorbable polymer.
 5. The combination as in to claim 4, wherein saidbioabsorbable polymer is polyglycolic acid.
 6. The combination as in toclaim 1, wherein said at least one sheet of a flexible main suturingmaterial comprises tissue of an organism.
 7. The combination as in toclaim 6, wherein said tissue of an organism is an organ protective film.8. The combination as in to claim 7, wherein said tissue of an organismis a heart sac.
 9. The combination as in claim 1, comprising two sheetsof flexible main suturing material.
 10. The combination as in claim 9,wherein said two sheets of flexible main suturing material are ofdifferent material.